London Surprise Minor

I've been ringing for over 50 years and I have even rung peals of surprise major, not that I ring many peals. I have a quite limited repertoire of surprise minor methods: most towers around me are lucky to get beyond plain bob (with a few exceptions). Thus, a quarter of London has been a target of mine for many years.

I achieved this target yesterday but had to drive 20 miles to do so. It was a branch quater peal day. Whilst it went very well, we had 2 false starts of a couple of leads each. It was not me who went wrong but, as the 'least experienced' surprise minor ringer, it was suggested that I might like to glance at 'the line': I didn't need to. Once the person who did go wrong had woken up the ringing was a lot better.

As it turned out, after we had rung up, I toyed with putting a knot in the rope so that it would be shorter but it was on the cusp of needing one. After false start 2 I did put a knot in and, by the end, I was glad I had.

It was rather embarrasing for the conductor at the end for him to be told by a clearly very experienced ringer that he had used a false calling for the 720. He had called W, H, W (twice repeated) from the 6th. However, on checking, this is in my Ringers' Diary (2004) so I do not understand the problem.

Meeting people

I made myself go out ringing on Monday evening at the tower to which I had gone on Saturday but hadn't rung. It turned out that several of the usual ringers were unable to come that evening so it was quite useful that I had turned up.

Although I had revised both Cambridge and Yorkshire Major we actually only rang Doubles methods, with a cover. However, they were nice bells and the company was good.

On Friday I am playing at a funeral and it happened that one of the ringers is due to toll the half-muffled tenor at the nearby church where the service will be held.

It is a small world.

Saturday and Sunday

I happened to go to a branch ringing meeting yesterday (not my branch) which - as usual - started late (this time due to a partial 'lockout') and at which there was much chatter and not as much ringing as there could have been. I popped along to the next tower, where there was tea and cake, but didn't stop for the ringing as I was getting bored. The gap between the 2 towers is too long IMHO. I needed to get home and cook and hadn't actually planned to go to tower 2.

It made a pleasant change for someone actually to engage me in conversation and also to have a brief chat with 2 other people: this does not happen in my branch. I do not think my branch have even noticed I have stopped going.

I arrived at church today for the 0930 service and the bells were ringing. They had taken (oddly) to ringing from 0830 - 0900 because some ringers wanted to get on with other things on Sundays! Annoyingly, they did not stop ringing until one minute before the service and I was not going to compete with the bells by playing pre-service music. Grrr!

Any excuse

When I was a ringer in my youth I enjoyed quarter peals (1260 changes taking about 40 minutes). I've rung a few peals (5040 changes lasting about 3 hours). A peal is a lot of ringing to inflict on the people living close to the church.

Some ringers try to ring as many peals as possible and several have rung 3000+. It seems any excuse to ring for a long time can be conjured up.

Why would one need to mark the casting of a bell? This peal does so but it is only one of many rung by Richard Allton. He has rung 13 peals in November and 119 so far this year.

There is currently a drive to "Ring for the King" i.e. to get people to learn to ring for the coronation. Nobody seems to try to retain the ringers who do exist.

Also, when I go to meetings it is the same people who call the touches; there is no training in this respect.

My hands

Apologies. I am digging up an old topic. I stopped bellringing at my local church back in May.

I am clearly not missed and I am glad, in a way, that I stopped going because it has meant that the condition of my hands has not deteriorated as quickly as it might have done. Had I kept going just to ring the same old stuff I would now feel that the past few months had been wasted. I am no worse off for not having been to ring. I still know the methods I know and, in fact, I do ring at one church where I play occasionally.

The middle finger of my left hand has arthritis and has started to be painful. I am anticipating not being able to play the organ in a few years time.

Ringing cliques

When I started bellringing in the 1970s it was common to be welcomed into a new tower as a visitor. Sadly, I find, this is less often the case.

On Saturday I attended a meeting of a guild branch (not my own branch) not too far away because I had not rung at the tower where they were meeting. The event started late and I actually wondered if anybody would turn up.

There was general chatter about the small size of the branch, illness, apologies for absence and so on. It was a 6 bell tower and there were, I think, about nine people present although 2 more arrived 50 minutes later as I was leaving.

It is always clear who the characters are: some ringers can be 'high-profile'. If they know each other then they relax into pre-established roles and a subconsciously agreed pecking order. New faces are not quickly incorporated into their 'private' clique.

Those present were all 'old' people in the range 55 - 70 (I'm guessing) although I suspect a couple were older than that. It struck me that it was not a readily welcoming group of people. They recognised that I could ring well (because I can) so that wasn't an issue. I did chat to one person I had rung with quite a long time ago whose name I saw in the 'signing in' book, but who I did not recognise by sight.

However, it soon dawned on me that the reason that this group (and the ringing fraternity in general) is struggling to attract new members is that they are all set in their ways despite what they may think. I once had the same experience when I briefly took up croquet.

They will all continue to ring until they are too old to do so and then wonder why no young ringers have come in to fill up the ranks. So sad.

Cool

In the current UK heatwave churches are nice places to be because they are cool: freezing cold (often) in the winter, but cool in the summer.

Bellringing chambers can be somewhat closed and stuffy however, so this is where ground floor rings come into their own.

I had a pleasant day out on Wednesday visiting North Luffenham, Ryhall (upstairs) and Easton-on-the-hill. This last tower is now a 6 having been a 4 which I thought I had never visited. However, looking at my pre-university ringing records (I stopped keeping records when I left uni) I had been to the 4 many years ago.

This is my once a month ringing as I do not ring anywhere else.

Memory playing tricks again!

Bellringers' Outings

Bellringers like to go on outings and I join a group once a month. We visit 2 towers in the morning, have a pub lunch, and then visit 1 in the afternoon.

On Wednesday we started with a lovely ring of 6 where I have been once before. Next was an OK ring of 6 but I didn't like them as much, although they were not particularly hard work. I did not go to the 3rd tower because they are such hard work. (It turns out that it was as well I didn't go or have lunch because DHL had left me a parcel in direct sunlight and in full view of the street)

It is a sad fact that, when we visit some towers, we find evidence of past bands of ringers and a set of lovely bells: the church has no longer has a ringing band.

At other places the bells are so heavy and badly maintained that no learners would ever cope, so a band cannot be taught. It all comes down to money again.

I have noticed one thing in common with organs. IF money is sent on an organ overhaul, then it is just an overhaul and the instrument does not always become easier to play, although it will go on for longer. I have also known bells and fittings to be overhauled but then they are not actually any easier to ring and they do not sound any better.

Luckily, many organ and bell projects do yield good results and are worth the money spent. It is up to the church to ensure that they obtain value for money. Simply cleaning an organ does little real good if the action is shot.

Called upon

I am getting called upon to play for quite a lot of services this year. This afternoon I am driving some 23 miles to play for a renewal of wedding vows. There are three hymns and the entrance and exit music is provided by a CD. I have to say the fee is quite large but it was fixed by the church and they even asked if I needed more!

I do worry about driving a long distance, not because of the driving but in case the car gives up and I do not arrive. There - I have jinxed this afternoon already.

I have no idea how many people will be there; I guess it is just close family. I also assume this couple are getting on in years and perhaps this is a milestone anniversary for them.

If they have the bells I shall not go up and ring because they are rather heavy. I went there some 55 years ago but I think they have been rehung since then!

No checking up

A friend and I agree that some church congregations can be rather pushy and nosey: they are also keen for people to get involved in things. However, if one stays away for a period of time it is rare that anybody bothers to check up on you.

Following my abrupt exit from the ringing chamber a few weeks ago nobody has contacted me to see how I am. I have - as the amusing mis-quotation goes - passed a lot of water since then and I now understand what happened. (This ought to be the last time I blog about this by the way.)

I dare not go ringing again, even if I wanted to, because there would be too much explaining to do. I suppose people are taking a 'Let sleeping dogs lie' approach, or 'He'll come back when he is ready'.

Relating yesterday's post on Cognitive Dissonance to ringing, I know now that I did not want to give up ringing but I knew that I had to do so. What is more I have known for a while. I was becoming increasingly tense and fed up whilst ringing because I gain so little from it these days. The little I could gain is a decent ring with everyone knowing the method pretty well, which is not much reward for having given up an evening to help people who have made no effort during the past 7 days. This is very common theme in towers.

As a musician I know it is bad to practise and lock in one's mistakes but this is what regularly happens in bellringing because nobody will say anything. I can only bottle things up for so long and then I burst. Add to that the quasi-grief at realising that my ringing days are over and it is no surprise that I made a swift exit.

Perhaps someone in my tower will read this blog and understand that I am not a bad person. The reason I get so depressed in church services is that not even I will storm out of a service for which I am playing the organ: I have wanted to a few times.

Bell ringing - no local bands

I have been on a bellringing outing today - it is the only ringing I do now. We visited three churches.

The first church had a fair set of bells although I didn't like them. There was no local band although peals have been ring there (sooner them than me). There was a small but well-built organ although mouse droppings were causing problems internally.

The second had some lovely light bells which handled beautifully and the church itself was extremely pleasant. The organ console was extremely tidy which tells me a lot. There had been a local band as was evident from the notice board. The chap who let us in told us that some ringer or other had poached all their ringers and was getting a bad name in the area for putting off other potential ringers. Why does the church not sort this out?

Tower three was one where I had been before. The bells were rehung for the millenium or at least overhauled. They go tolerably well although one should not rush them as some of the band were apt to do. I know the organ is unplayable (and has possibly been removed) because water damage caused £50,000 worht of damage.

As I go around churches I see much the same in mnay placaes. Dust, relics from the past, a failure to tidy up and a make do and mend attitude. In other well-heeled places there is obvious care and a comfortable environment.

Ringing is suspended

I have decided to cut right back on my bellringing, for now. I started in 1973 so I suppose I may do a little to 'celebrate' 50 years, next year. Henceforth I shall ring once a month with a group which does outings.

I have had other breaks in the past. I had some arm problems in the 1970s and RSI in the 1980s. I didn't ring at university at all (1977-1980) although I did on my PGCE course (1981).

Once I started work I went out to get myself away from the flat when I lived alone. From 2005-2021 I didn't go ringing much as working in boarding school leaves one pretty exhausted in the evenings and there are duties to do some evenings.

The final straw came last week when I left the ringing room suddenly. I've been reflecting on this. IT was caused by frustration but not necessarily with the other ringers. It was just the realisation that I am wasting my time as I've been 'stagnant' for so long.

There isn't any point in learning harder methods because, well, who would I ring them with? The reason I do not ring London is because it isn't rung around here so there is no point in learning it.

I am not ringing for the Queen's Jubilee.

Clang

I blew my top. I stormed out. Enough is enough.

I used to enjoy bellringing but no longer. Bad ringing, people who handle a bell badly (despite having been told about it) and inflicting clashes on the public all frustrate me.

Last night was a case in point. A chap was asked if he had looked at Grandsire Doubles bobs and singles: he hadn't. (The last time I was there I called a touch of Plain Bob minor with all singles, which he had never properly learnt, just to make sure he did some.) He was put in a touch of Grandsire and did OK with a guide. He is a decent chap and may not find aspects ringing easy but he seems content to stay at the same level where he has been for years.

Then there is the guy who now refuses to improve his handling and striking. He rings a large bell like a small one. He could not even stay in the correct place when hunting the treble. Others, who should have learned the method just hadn't.

These days, when the church needs to protect its reputation in society, why does it allow bad ringing to continue? Whilst it is a fact that a bell practice will, by definition, result in mistakes happening this is no reason to accept a lazy approach to ringing. It is tantamount to reinforcing bad habits, bad striking, poor rhythm and an attitude of  'it's not perfect but it will do'.

Peals - don't get me started. There are certain ringers who devote all their free time to ringing as many peals as possible in as many places as possible. They are the 'Olympians' of the ringing fraternity. There is usually one guy who arranges and calls these peals for whatever reason, such as it being Friday 13th (search Peterborough Diocesan Guild on Bellboard). I've never met him. He has done little to help folk like me do more.

Every pastime needs rank and file members who are never going to reach great heights. I've recently taken up indoor bowls and I am happy just being a club player once or twice a week. The 'hair and teeth brigade' (apparently that phrase is not a 'thing' but one I've grown up with) take it oh so seriously.

I have been ringing for 50 years - aolmost to the day. may be it is time to stop.

Broken clapper

I have never rung the bells for a funeral before but I did so on Friday for half an hour before the service. We planned to ring for 25 minutes and then the tenor was tolled for 5 minutes.

Six minutes before the service and 1 minute before we would have stopped anyway, "Stand!" was called following a very loud bang from upstairs. The ringer of the 5th discovered that the clapper had fallen out of his bell or parted company with it in some other way. We were quite safe as there are two wooden floors between the ringers and the bells.

As it was a funeral we were ringing half-muffled. The video below shows muffles being put on some bells, but it is a brave chap who walks amongst the bells whilst they are up. I certainly wouldn't!

Ringing

I posted in 2019 (pre-pandemic) that I was fed up with bellringing. Largely I still am, so I invited a friend round for coffee and a chat (Hello JM!) but it had to be short as I was due on a Zoom call.

A few suggestions were considered and, afterwards, I did dig out my methods book to revise the 4 easier surprise major methods I used to ring. Cambridge and Yorkshire Major are pretty familiar; after all, I was ringing Yorkshire in 1981 when I did my PGCE but I have not progressed much since then. I learnt Lincolnshire and Superlative but need them so little these days.

I am not suggesting that I want to be ringing multi-methods peals or new methods, just that it is a "man cannot live by bread alone" situation.

Learning new things is a process which changes over time and one's reasons for doing so also change. When one is a child one likes parental attention when one has achieved something new: "Look at me Mummy!" When I was a young organist the flower ladies took an interest in me and encouraged me so I practised harder.

In the early days of ringing one passes through various firsts.

• 1st quarter on the treble
• 1st quarter inside
• 1st treble bob
  
• 1st quarter in a particular method
• 1st quarter of surprise
• 1st quarter as conductor
• 1st peal
• 1st Major / Caters / Royal / Cinques / Maximus
  

I have grown out of bothering about 'firsts' but there are many ringers who have not! In the Ringing World you will find

• Circled the tower
• Circled the tower as conductor
• Complete the Standard 8
• Completes the Alphabet!
• Has now rung a peal on every day of the year (not the same year)
• 100th peal together (persons A and B)

What I really need is a ringing friend but I've never had one although I have friends who are ringers. I've never had a phone call of the type "Hi John, I'm going to the Wednesday practice at Bongtown; do you want to come?" (I tried to teach my [now ex-] wife to ring but it was a dismal failure and my children were not interested.)

Bellringing is very much a pastime in which there is a great deal of one-upmanship, I feel, and there is a hierarchy or pecking order. Ringing also involves people and 'there is nowt so queer as folk' to the extent that ringers get set in their ways and acquire bad habits. On the flip side I know 3 ringers (2 now in their 70s and 1 in his 80s) who are a delight just to watch ringing. Two of them ring a heavy bell with absolute ease, whilst the third makes it look more physical but in a balletic kind of way: he is very tall so has had to work on his skills.

Having written all this, it seems to me that whereas ringing was a way of making friends in the past (although teenagers can fall out, believe me) I am essentially a lonely person - probably because I am a perfectionist and I don't like to take risks. Thus my jaded view of bellringing is caused by the fact that it is not yielding the close or multiple friendships which I feel others in the fraternity seem to have.

I seem to be invisible. I have been to quarterly or monthly meetings and everyone else has been engaged in conversation whilst I have stood on my own - ignored. I cite an older previous post.